Vijayawada, Aug 2026 : YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday welcomed the Veligonda Project becoming a reality, describing it as the fulfilment of a long-standing dream of his father and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. At the same time, Jagan launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of attempting to rewrite the history of the project and claim credit for work completed during successive governments.
In a detailed post on X, Jagan said the Veligonda Project would provide critical relief to lakhs of people in the drought-prone region who have faced fluorosis and inadequate access to safe drinking water. He also highlighted its importance for farmers awaiting irrigation facilities for decades.
Jagan claimed that his government completed the most challenging component of the project — the twin tunnels through the Nallamala hills — and subsequently dedicated them to the nation, allowing Krishna river water to flow through the system.
Jagan's Claims on Project History
According to Jagan, Naidu's contribution to the project was limited largely to laying its foundation stone, while the broader vision and substantial development took place under YS Rajasekhara Reddy and later the YSRCP government.
Jagan alleged that Naidu laid the foundation stone in 1996 ahead of elections but subsequently abandoned the project. He claimed that despite the Telugu Desam Party government remaining in power until 2004, only Rs 10 lakh was spent on the project, with much of it going towards the foundation stone ceremony.
Jagan said that after becoming Chief Minister, YSR incorporated the project into his ambitious Jalayagnam programme and gave it a comprehensive structure.
| Project Component | Progress Highlighted by Jagan |
|---|---|
| Twin tunnels | 37.587 km total length |
| Work completed under YSR initiatives | 20.333 km |
| Work during 2014-19 | 6.686 km |
| Remaining difficult section | 10.568 km |
| Tunnel-1 breakthrough | January 2021 |
| Tunnel-2 breakthrough | January 2024 |
| Tunnel dedication | March 6, 2024 |
The former Chief Minister said the project envisioned not merely tunnels but a larger irrigation network comprising the Nallamala Sagar reservoir, three dams, a feeder channel, head regulators and main canals.
He claimed that 20.333 km of the twin-tunnel network had been completed during YSR's tenure. During Naidu's 2014-2019 tenure, another 6.686 km was completed, although, according to Jagan, neither tunnel achieved a breakthrough during that period.
The remaining 10.568 km, which Jagan described as the most difficult portion, was completed during the YSRCP government's tenure despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial constraints.
Focus on Irrigation and Drinking Water
Jagan said Tunnel-1 was completed in January 2021, while Tunnel-2 achieved its breakthrough in January 2024. The twin tunnels were subsequently dedicated on March 6, 2024, along with head regulators and canal-linking works.
Questioning Naidu's claim over the project, Jagan asked how the Chief Minister could portray himself as the sole architect of the Veligonda Project when major components had been completed under previous administrations.
He also accused the current government of failing to address several outstanding issues in the region. Among them, he cited delays in completing a 131-bed super-speciality hospital at Peddadornala and the government medical college at Markapuram, both of which, he said, had been initiated by the previous YSRCP government.
Jagan further alleged that there were attempts to privatise the Markapuram medical college, while displaced families were still awaiting rehabilitation and resettlement benefits.
He also criticised what he described as delays in transferring water to the Nallamala Sagar reservoir, claiming that the region had been waiting for the promised benefits for more than two years.
'People Need Water, Not Publicity'
Jagan urged the Naidu government to focus on completing the remaining works instead of engaging in a political battle over credit for the project.
He called for the reservoir to be filled and for irrigation and drinking water supplies to reach the intended beneficiaries. He also demanded that the hospital and medical college be completed and retained in the government sector.
Jagan argued that people in the backward region were more interested in receiving reliable water, irrigation, healthcare and rehabilitation support than in political claims over who deserved credit for the project.
His remarks come amid a continuing political contest between the YSRCP and the ruling TDP-led government over the legacy and implementation of major irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh.
